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Gmail added a new feature into their Labs, which we have been waiting for what seemed like forever: Gmail Tasks.

They added the feature in labs and posted the article on the Gmail blog.

Luckily, they made Gmail Tasks a non-intrusive component to the UI (unlike a Gmail gadget which makes Gmail’s left column extremely long); it uses a Gmail chat window frame.

I don’t think that RTM (Remember the Milk) is going to be too happy.

Tasks vs. RTM in Gmail

The first iteration of Gmail Tasks has a lot of cool features like:

• Tabbed/grouped tasks
• Task due dates
• Task notes
• Manage multiple lists
• Intra-Gmail keyboard shortcuts
• Turn emails into tasks
• Not a gadget!

No gadget here!

Clicking “Tasks” brings up this dialog.

Unfortunately, it’s lacking a lot of features that I hope will come along with time like:

• Colored tasks
• Some kind of reminder (popup/email/audible)
• Integration with Gcalendar
• Creation timestamp (in addition to due date)
• Less bugs…

Right now, RTM has many, many more features:

• Everything that Tasks does
• Twitter integration
• Shared tasks
• Reminders
• Colored tasks
• Lots of other integrations

So as far as feature comparison of product vs. product, of course RTM wins!

However, I believe that in a Gmail context, most users don’t need the full power of RTM. Personally, I just want a fairly simple task list, and Tasks satiates my needs.

RTM provides 2 Gmail integration points: a Firefox extension and a gadget URL.

The Firefox extension is really nice, but its a Firefox extension. Like Opera? Need IE? Like Safari? Too bad. Many corporate/gov’t locations don’t support or allow FF, so you are stuck with the gadget, which makes your left column a skyscraper.

Your Choice…

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